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Stores could be closed for selling synthetic drugs

Published: Monday, October 8, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, October 8, 2012 at 11:09 p.m.

A proposed parish law could cause business owners caught selling bath salts to lose their occupational licenses.

“Convenience stores and other shops are legally selling drugs and drug paraphernalia because they’re finding ways around the law. This is our effort to make them responsible,” Councilman Greg Hood said. “Right now, they’re arrested for selling bath salts under the table in their stores. Then they serve a couple days in jail, get out and are able to open right back up.”

Hood introduced the ordinance during Monday’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee meeting.

The council approved scheduling a public hearing for further discussion of the law before a final vote is taken. Residents will get the chance to address the council about the issue at 6:30 p.m. during the Oct. 24 regular council session.

Councilwoman Beryl Amedée voted against the ordinance, saying the wording needed to be clarified.

“President Obama signed two laws this past summer, after the legislative executive session, that made bath salts illegal. What I don’t understand is why it’s still legal for anyone to sell or use these drugs if a law already exists,” Amedée said. “That’s why I voted against moving forward with this. We’re not done.”

She later said while she believes bath salts are dangerous, “any proposed change to our parish ordinances should be necessary. A proposal should be precisely worded so that it resolves the problem the author intended. I am disappointed anytime we vote to move a proposal to public hearing when the wording is still questionable.”

Federal and state laws make it illegal to sell or use synthetic drugs containing or mimicking THC, MDPV, which acts as a stimulator to the central nervous system, and mephedrone. Each of these chemicals can be found in common, addictive, illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin and cocaine.

Manufacturers of the drugs have evaded the law by changing the chemicals used, making their version of the bath salts legal.

The proposed parish law would not specify the illegal chemicals but would instead outlaw any form of synthetic drugs, including bath salts, and marijuana.

Violators will be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, depending on the type and amount of drugs in their possession.

“As a nurse in the emergency room, I see the effects of bath salts all the time. There’s often a lot of brain damage and other medical side effects that are irreversible,” Councilwoman Christa Duplantis said.

“As a school counselor, I see the danger of this new drug as well, and I see how much more popular it’s becoming,” Councilman John Navy said. “We need to do our best to correct this problem. We’ve got to start somewhere.”

Hood said penalties need to be in place for businesses.

“These drugs are harmful, and our goal is to get it off the streets and hold these business owners accountable,” Hood said. “These are people turning a profit from helping to destroy other people’s lives.”

The council called on Col. Mike Solet of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office for information on the prevalence of bath salt sales in the parish. Solet said without being able to give an exact number, about 15 to 20 stores sell bath salts.

“All we can do is keep fighting the fight. My big concern is with the age group we’re dealing with,” Solet said. “Although there are some, we’re not mainly talking about 30- and 40-year-olds. We’re seeing 14- and 15-year-olds. We need this law to help us regulate. We need to use every tool in our toolbox, and this would be one of them.”

<p>A proposed parish law could cause business owners caught selling bath salts to lose their occupational licenses.</p><p>“Convenience stores and other shops are legally selling drugs and drug paraphernalia because they're finding ways around the law. This is our effort to make them responsible,” Councilman Greg Hood said. “Right now, they're arrested for selling bath salts under the table in their stores. Then they serve a couple days in jail, get out and are able to open right back up.”</p><p>Hood introduced the ordinance during Monday's Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee meeting.</p><p>The council approved scheduling a public hearing for further discussion of the law before a final vote is taken. Residents will get the chance to address the council about the issue at 6:30 p.m. during the Oct. 24 regular council session.</p><p>Councilwoman Beryl Amedée voted against the ordinance, saying the wording needed to be clarified.</p><p>“President Obama signed two laws this past summer, after the legislative executive session, that made bath salts illegal. What I don't understand is why it's still legal for anyone to sell or use these drugs if a law already exists,” Amedée said. “That's why I voted against moving forward with this. We're not done.”</p><p>She later said while she believes bath salts are dangerous, “any proposed change to our parish ordinances should be necessary. A proposal should be precisely worded so that it resolves the problem the author intended. I am disappointed anytime we vote to move a proposal to public hearing when the wording is still questionable.”</p><p>Federal and state laws make it illegal to sell or use synthetic drugs containing or mimicking THC, MDPV, which acts as a stimulator to the central nervous system, and mephedrone. Each of these chemicals can be found in common, addictive, illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin and cocaine.</p><p>Manufacturers of the drugs have evaded the law by changing the chemicals used, making their version of the bath salts legal.</p><p>The proposed parish law would not specify the illegal chemicals but would instead outlaw any form of synthetic drugs, including bath salts, and marijuana.</p><p>Violators will be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, depending on the type and amount of drugs in their possession.</p><p>“As a nurse in the emergency room, I see the effects of bath salts all the time. There's often a lot of brain damage and other medical side effects that are irreversible,” Councilwoman Christa Duplantis said.</p><p>“As a school counselor, I see the danger of this new drug as well, and I see how much more popular it's becoming,” Councilman John Navy said. “We need to do our best to correct this problem. We've got to start somewhere.”</p><p>Hood said penalties need to be in place for businesses.</p><p>“These drugs are harmful, and our goal is to get it off the streets and hold these business owners accountable,” Hood said. “These are people turning a profit from helping to destroy other people's lives.”</p><p>The council called on Col. Mike Solet of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office for information on the prevalence of bath salt sales in the parish. Solet said without being able to give an exact number, about 15 to 20 stores sell bath salts.</p><p>“All we can do is keep fighting the fight. My big concern is with the age group we're dealing with,” Solet said. “Although there are some, we're not mainly talking about 30- and 40-year-olds. We're seeing 14- and 15-year-olds. We need this law to help us regulate. We need to use every tool in our toolbox, and this would be one of them.”</p>